Time and speed measuring apparatus



Aug. 11, 1942.

F. E. TERI QILL 2,292,908

TIME AND SPEED MEASURING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 8, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet l I4 27 1 If 25 I? 22 I9 29 2031 20 E j um I 18 18 Hg 5. 19

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---- c7 Z i 12 J INVENTOR [257T]. Err/11 5/ ATTORNEY Aug. 11, 1942. F. E. TERRILL 08 TIME AND SPEED MEASURING AP PARA'IUS Filed Nov. 8, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ;-----4a 52 at?" INVENTOR Z'E. Terr-I ll 21W A 14) ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 11, 1942 2,292,908 TIME AND SPEED MEASURING APPARATUS Forrest E. Terrill, Arkansas City,

Kans., assignor to Western Railroad Supply Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Delaware Application November 8, 1940, Serial No. 364,891

3 Claims.

My invention relates to apparatus for measuring and determining the speed of travel of vehicles on a roadway, and it has particular reference to the provision and organization of apparatus particularly well adapted to measure and determine the speeds at which railway trains operate over a stretch of railway track.

In general, it is proposed in accordance with my invention to locate spaced apart in the path of travel of a vehicle, contactor devices operable by the vehicle and arranged to control electroresponsive means which causes operation of a timing device during the interval between successive actuations by the vehicle of the contactor devices. More particularly, my invention provides means for controlling a clockwork timing mechanism such as a stop watch by actuating the plunger or stem of the watch to start and stop operation thereof respectively in response to suecessive actuations by a vehicle of at least two contactor devices located in the path of travel of the vehicle.

My invention has for an object the provision of novel and improved means for effecting the control by a vehicle of timing means arranged in the above described manner.

Another object of my invention is the provision of relatively inexpensive, readily portable and accurate means for measuring the time between successive actuations of contactor devices by a vehicle.

Other important objects and characteristic features of my invention will become readily apparent from the following description of a preferred form of apparatus embodying my invention, applied to the measurement of speed of railway vehicles. It is to be understood, of course, that the represented use of such apparatus is merely illustrativ and is but an example of many uses where my invention will be useful.

In the accompanying drawings, where similar reference characters have been employed to designate corresponding parts, Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view representing a circuit arrangement and wiring diagram of apparatus embody ing my invention as applied to measuring the speed of railway vehicles.

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view illustrating a preferred form of construction of a contactor device C represented in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view, partially sectioned on the line III-III of Fig, 2, of the contactor device C shown in Fig. 2.

nism TM embodying my invention and incorporating the electromagnets EM represented in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of a timing mechaas by screws 30 Fig. 5 is a side elevational view of the timing mechanism TM illustrated in Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a front elevational view of the timing mechanism TM, with a portion of the panel 38 and base member 43 broken away to show more clearly the arrangement of the parts.

Fig. 7 is an inverted plan view of the timing mechanism TM.

Referring to Fig. 1, the reference characters C with distinguishing suflixes designate contactor devices located spaced apart in a stretch of railway trackway X so as to be successively actuated by a vehicle or train as it operates on the track. The two contactors CI and C2, as'shown, are preferably disposed adjacent the same track rail of the stretch, and preferably are of the type comprising a movable member which is operated from a normal to an operated position in resp nse to actuation by the leading wheel of a vehicle on the track. preferred form of construction of contactor devices of this type is shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

Referring now to Figs. 2 and 3, contactor device C as shown comprises a supporting member It provided with longitudinal slots l5 and I6 and secured, as by welding, to a U-shaped clip member II which in turn is fastened to a bracket l9 by means of a drilled or slotted bolt 20 and a nut 2|. The bracket I9 is secured to a rail by a clamp I8 which extends under the rail and is provided on one end with an upturned ing 22 which engages the flange on the inner or gauge side of the rail, and the other threaded end of clamp I8 is inserted through a hole-in bracket l8 which is shaped to engage the outer flange of the rail 50 as to secure the bracket to the rail when nut 23 threaded on the clamp is drawn up against the bracket. The clip I! when inserted in the slots of bolt 20 may be adjusted so that when nut 2| is drawn up, a movable contact member 25 slidably mounted as by bolts 26 and 21 in the slots of supporting member [4, is disposed J'ust touching the outer side of the rail ball and projects a short distance, say or of an inch, above the top of the rail ball. A pair of contact members It and II, spaced apart by insulating spacer 28 and spaced from supporting member I 4 by another insulating spacer member 29, are secured to supporting member H provided with insulating bush ings 3|. Each contact member l0 and H is provided with a spring contact clip I2 to facilitate or projec'tirrg Y X of the, trainw lhayel'substantiallymo effect-upon" either contact member 25 or contact-l l l.- It 7 follows, therefore, the contact, Ill-l l is closed "by th l ad h i' h l pe 'ting;member:25- is re-- making electrical contact with such members. 'Contactmember I0 is provided at its outer end with a V-shaped bend adapted to lit in a correspondingly shaped depression formed in a contact operating member or cam 33 formed of insulating material and secured, as by rivets 34, to slidable member 25, The parts are so proportioned that when member 25 is in its normal position wherein it extends a short distance above the top of the rail ball, the member 25 is at the topyotjthe slots wand, IBKin supporting member I4, as 'viewdin Figi'3, and the "V'-shaped bend of contact member l0 rides in the depression of cam 33 so that contacts [0 and llare'" out of engagement.

When a train operates along the track, the tread of the leading wheel-of the-train strikes contact member 25 to forceitdownin thef'slots i' of supporting member l4, and the V-shaped'bend' of contact member ID is forped out ,.ofi the depression of cam 33 and is actuated into engagement with contact member II to close contact I0 H wherein 'contact'llll l is closed until such time a the m mb r. amae a lrresiexe its normal iti and that succeeding wheels e train and is retained closed until contact I y I stored to its normal'positio The I two contactor devices C are arranged isee 1 res ec vely -:t q-e fe ence chara ers: EM

lr'eferredto to measureor me interval .elap sing between t1 if. the .two contactor de- 11 {in .detail presently, but

when i es c ated ve ta or devi e is: actuated,j"a each magnetwhen causedto operate actua es ,me'ans'fior depressing or actuating a plunger 'or'st'empf "a; clockwork timing device uishing sufiixesi which in device, such as a stop i a er {in which the 'con-,

v I eji sho l be"notedthatsuchcontrol isestabl shedf 'byfc usin each electromagnet to "operatefrozn a normal to anoperated position 1 opening 44 (see Fig.7) and also with a bifurcated depending portion 45 (see Figs. and 6). Supfastened respectively to two levers 5| pivoted by a pin 52 :to the bifurcated dependent portion 45 of basev 43.

Preferably, the levers 5| are held spaced apart by a spring 54 surrounding pin 52 and interposed between the levers 5|; and a stop 53 is fastened to dependent portion'45 of base 43 to limit the travel of'the'anhatures 55 when ..,released.

!'.TWO operating levers or-pendulums 55 pivoted Qn a-pin 56 journaled in the'sidewalls of opening 44 of base member 43,are provided at their respective lowenends (as viewed in Fig; 5) with weights 5'! andhooks 58. Each operating lever 55 teeter-"devices Ce ablish1control oilthe timing prisingajstop watch,l/V enclosedina casing 36 fastened by screwsj 3l to. a -pane1 ;38,.- with'the stem or plunger. 39 of the watch projecting. from an opening inthe casing..,The watch WJD Teferably is of, the. type having thIee-Second and V three-minute, hands; thatis, one hand ofthewatch makes a completeirevolution of the large dial shown in Figf lin three seconds while the other hand (not visible in 4) makes'a corn-; plete revolution of the small dial shown in-Fig-."4

in three minutes; fbut it is to beunderstood; of.

a operatively connected through the medium of a common linkage member 60 to the stem or ating lever .55 as shownis provided with a lug #01 pin 59adapted to engagelinkage member 63 so as to cause member 60 to beactuated by either or both of the'operating levers55, as will be made clearpresently.

The pivoted levers 5| which are controlled'by electromagnets EM are disposed one in the path of'travel of each operating lever 55, and each pivoted lever 5| is 'provided at its extreme righthand .end (as viewed in Fig.5) with ahook or latch 63 adapted to engage hook 58 carried by itsassociated operating lever 55. When electromagnets EM are deenergized so that armatures .50 are in their respective released positions, levers .5] are positioned as indicated infull lines in Fig. 5 so that when operating levers are swung, either by actuating linkage member or by manually actuating the levers themselves, to the position in which operatin'g'le'ver 55 is illustrated in full lines in Fig. 5,- the hooks 58 of operating levers-55 are engaged'by the corresponding hooks 63 of pivoted levers 5!; In this position of operating levers .55; the levers "are latched against the bias of gravity-and of auxiliary or restraining biasing means.-- The' auxiliarybiasing means comprises, as shown, springs 65 which are connected at .one'end to each operating lever 55 and at theother'endto depending members 56 secured by, screws 61 to base member 43. The springs 65- are-'selected and proportioned so as toaid the action of gravity onlevers 55 when levers 5| are .unlatched, and such springs further function to restrict the oscillations of the operating levers 55, as will-be made clear presently.

Each. of the electromagnets EM is provided with one or more contacts operated from a normal .toan operated positionf upon operation of thev associated magnet. While the contacts may.

be controlled directly by the associated ms."

insulating-spacer 1i, tobase and having its other end positionedtolie'ih thepathof move- '..ment of theassociated operating lever 55, When an operating lever 55 is latchedmpagainst its bias'gth'e associated contact finger :10 isengaged and forced into,contact with another contact element, which, may, for example, ;-.be the base Panel 38; as shown, isprovide'd with terminals [8V in order to; facilitate; making electricaLcontact, withccoils 4'|;;;.of' the electromagnets EM. These, terminals-are suitably insulated from the ..panel and base member 45,, and, as shown are, preferably arranged ingroups of @910 terminals ,for each electromagnet, with-,,-one .terminal of each group permanentlyconnected; as. by a wire 19 to one terminal of the coils of the associated electromagnetEM, The ,other terminal of each. lelectrornagnetlis, ,connectedas by. a =wirev i" to the associated; flexible contact}. finger '10" and hence-is-connectedyto base member '43- at such times asv the associated operating lever 55 is in ,its latched;. up position. ,As canbe seen from an inspection-101,3 3. -1,' one terminal of a suitable source-of current, such as a battery II, is

connected: to base member". andathe other terminal; of the sourceis connected to the". remaining terminal of eachgroupofterminals";

, Measurement of-the speed .of a train-on the track is effected by the apparatus J'ust described by locating the-contactor devices along the track a known distance, D part, and byinterposing the contacts of, devices C, as represented a in FigflLeach in the circuit of a magnetoftimn mechanism mg tis. b c c i st two'contact members lfi land i l of contactor Cl respectively" to the two terminals 18 associated with elec'tromagnet mi and by connecting thetwo contact members I0 and II of contactor C2 respectively to the two terminals 18 associated with the other electromagnet EM2. The distance along the track between the two contactors C may be of any convenient value, such as, for example, 264 feet (3& of a mile), and it is obvious that when the distance between contactors is known, the rate of speed in feet per second is readily obtained by dividing the distance D by the time in seconds required for the front end of the train to pass from one contactor device C 'to the other.

With the contactors C spaced apart along the stretch and connected to timing mechanism TM as described hereinbefore; the movable members 25 of devices C operated to their normal positions so that contacts lO-ll are opened and the members extend a short distance above the top of the rail ball; watch W at its normal condition wherein both hands register zero; and operating levers 55 of mechanism TM both latched up in their normal positions represented in full lines in Fig. 5, wherein flexible contact fingers Iii are operated into engagement with base member 43, the apparatus is conditioned to measure the speed of a train or vehicle on the track. When the leading wheel of the train or vehicle strikes movable member 25 of either contactor C! or C2, the associated contact llli is closed and the associated electromagnet EM becomes energized to actua'te'its pivoted member :5l and unlatch one of the operating levers 55.

For example, contactor Ci is'first encountered ;by the'vehicle,oontact'-i0-'-'ll of that contactor becomes =closed and electromagnet EMI is en- .ergiz'ed'over 'an obvious circuit easily traced in Fig. 1.

The energization of magnet EM! attracts its armature to a position represented .in dash lines in 5,'and the" associated pivoted lever 5i accordingly is'swung to the position indicated by-dash lines 'm-"Figs 5-and thus unlatches theone operating lever 55 controlled thereby. Such unlatched operating lever 55 thereupon swings to the right (as-viewed in Fig.

i 5) .in response' to its *gravity and spring bias,

1 and dueto its inertia swings to a position wherein pin or lug'iii-carried by "the operating lever "engages: linkage member 60 to actuate such member and cause'it to depress the stem 89 of watch W and thus set into operation the clockwork timing of the watch. The unlatched operatinglever. 55 of course then'swin'gs to its left, but the oscillations of the lever are dampened byits respective spring 55 and the lever quickly comes to rest substantially in the position represented by dash, lines in Fig. 5, without obtaining suflicient inertia againto cause linkagemember ill to depress the stem ll of watchr w. I a a 1 Contact Ill- -ll of device Ci' remains closed, as pointed out heretofore, untilwsuch time as member 25 is manually restored to its normal position but electromagnet EMI is deenergized since the unlatching ot operatinglever. 55 per- ,mits spring contaotfinger ll to drop away from base 43 .and thus interrupt the circuit of magnet EMi, It fellows, therefore, that magnet EMI ismomentarily energized whenthe contact of itsfa ssociated contactor device Cl is closed, and that this operation ofmagnetEMl causes" the stem or plunger 39. to watch W to be actuated. The stem of the watch. of course, is restored to I its normal position inresponse toits customary spring bias after actuation by lever 60. @Whenthe leadingwheel of the train encountersthe other contactor C2, the associated contact iii-H is closed and magnet EMI becomes energized over an obvious circuit shown in Fig. 1, whereupon the other pivoted lever 5i associated with that magnet is actuated to unlatch the other operating lever 55.v This latter operating lever of course is caused to swing in response to its gravity and spring bias and due to its inertia occupies a position wherein its pin 59 engages linkage member 50 to actuate that member and cause it again to depress the stem 30 oi watch W, This action terminates operation of the clockwork timing mechanism of the watch, and the time interval required for the train to traverse the distance between and successive actuations of contactors C is registered on the dial. Electromagnet EM! of course is deenergized when its associated operating lever 55 becomes unlatched and permits the flexible contact finger 10 interposed in the circuit of magnet EM! to drop away from base 43.

From the foregoing it is readily apparent that the means that I have provided for measuring vice; These momentary operations of the electroresponsive devices are translated by inertia means to causeoperation of a control plunger or stem of a timing device to cause in turn the operation of such timing device during the interval between successive actuations of two of the contactor devices.

It is also apparent that the apparatus is arranged in such manner as to cancel out whatever time lag exists in the starting and stopping of the watch, that is, an equivalent time lag is introduced into both the starting and stopping operations and hence there is no necessity for a correction for such time lag.

Although I have herein shown and described only one form of time and speed measuring apparatus embodying my invention, it is understood that various changes and modifications may be made therein within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

'1. The combination with a trackway for vehicles and two contactor devices spaced apart in the trackway for'successive actuation by a vehicle operating thereover, said contactor devices each having a normally open contact arranged to become closed and remain closed upon actuation v "device comprising a plunger and a normally inactive clockwork mechanism rendered respectively active and inactive by successive actuationsof said plunger, an actuating member for causing actuation of said plunger, and means controlled by said two electromagnets for latching said levers against their bias in positionssuch that each lever when released engages said actuating member to cause such member to. actuate said plunger.

2. In combination with a trackway for vehicles and two contactor devices spaced apart in the trackway for successive actuation by a vehicle operating thereover, said contactor devices e ch having a normally open contact'which becomes closed and remains closed upon "actuation by a vehicle, an electromagnetic device, means ccintrolled by said contactor and electromagnetic devices for momentarily supplying an impulse of electrical current to said electromagnetic device in response to an actuation of either of said contactor devices, a stop watch mechanism including a' plunger and a normally inactive clockwork mechanism rendered respectively active and inactive in response to successive actuations of said plunger, and means operable by said electromagnetic device in response to an impulse of energy for actuating said plunger.

3. In combination with a stretch of railway track and two contactor devices located spaced apart along said track for successive actuation by a vehicle on said track, each of said contactor devices having a normally open contact which becomes closed and remains closed upon actuation by a vehicle, an electromagnetic device, a circuit for energizing said electromagnetic device controlled by said contactor devices and completed whenever either of said devices becomes closed, means operated by said electromagnetic device and interposed in said circuit for interrupting said circuit whenever said electromagnetic device becomes energized following an actuation of a contactor device, a stop watch Watch mechanism comprising a plunger and a normally inactive clockwork mechanism that becomes respectively active and inactive in response to successive actuations of said plunger, and means operable by said electromagnetic device and rendered eifective when such device becomes energized for actuating said plunger.

FORREST E. TERRILL. 

